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Tag Archive for: Vayeira

Vayeira – וַיֵּרָא (Genesis 18:1–22:24)

October 22, 2021/in Torah Tidbit

This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayeira – וַיֵּרָא (Genesis 18:1–22:24)

Our Torah Portion begins with the promise of the birth of Isaac whose name means “laughter.” Abraham and Sarah show hospitality to three travelers who turn out to be angels in disguise. As the angels are about to depart, they tell Abraham that Sarah will soon bear a son. This is unbelievable news, literally unbelievable, in that Sarah is now 90 years old and Abraham is 99. Sarah, listening from a distance in the privacy of her tent, laughs quietly to herself, saying: 

“Now that I am withered, am I to have enjoyment—with my husband so old?” (Genesis 18:12)

God responds asking Abraham:

“Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I in truth bear a child, old as I am?’ Is anything too wondrous for God?”  (Genesis 18:13-14)

God’s response to Sarah’s laughter raises two interesting and insightful questions:

  1. Why does God take exception to Sarah’s laughter, particularly when Abraham responds to this same promise with laughter himself, just one chapter earlier in the Torah?

    “Abraham threw himself on his face and laughed, as he said to himself, ‘Can a child be born to a man a hundred years old, or can Sarah bear a child at ninety?’” (Genesis 17:17)

    God seems fine with Abraham laughing at himself, and yet concerned about Sarah laughing to herself about Abraham.
  2. Why does God “lie” to Abraham concerning the reason for Sarah’s laughter?

    The great Biblical commentator Rashi notices a slight adjustment between the words which Sarah says to herself and the words which God tells Abraham she has said. Sarah laughs at the news that she will bear a son, because her husband Abraham is now so old. God says to Abraham that Sarah laughed because she thought that she herself was too old.

    Rashi teaches us that the lesson of this little ripple in the telling of the tale, is a lesson on Sh’lom Bayit, “peace in the home.” God prefers to tell a “white lie” rather than embarrass Abraham or cause strife between Abraham and Sarah. The big lesson of this story is that nothing is too miraculous for God, but the lesson beneath that lesson is that peace between people may at times matters more than the unbending truth of our words.

Parsha Vayeira – וַיֵּרָא Torah Summary:

Abraham welcomes three visitors, who announce that Sarah will soon have a son. (18:1-15) Abraham argues with God about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. (18:16-33) Lot’s home is attacked by the people of Sodom. Lot and his two daughters escape as the cities are being destroyed. Lot’s wife is turned into a pillar of salt. (19:1-29) Lot impregnates his daughters, and they bear children who become the founders of the nations Moab and Ammon. (19:30-38) Abimelech, king of Gerar, takes Sarah as his wife after Abraham claims that she is his sister. (20:1-18) Isaac is born, circumcised, and weaned. Hagar and her son, Ishmael, are sent away; an angel saves their lives. (21:1-21) God tests Abraham, instructing him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. (22:1-19) Vayeira – וַיֵּרָא

Vayeira (Genesis 18:1–22:24)

November 6, 2020/in Torah Tidbit

This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayeira – וַיֵּרָא (Genesis 18:1–22:24)

Lovingkindness, compassion, and empathy are the highest values of Jewish living, way before religious observance and ritual and worship as we learn  – “The reward one receives for accompanying guests is greater than all of the others. This is a statute which Abraham our Patriarch instituted and the path of kindness which he would follow. He would feed wayfarers, provide them with drink, and accompany them. Showing hospitality for guests surpasses receiving the Divine Presence.” Maimonides Mishne Torah, Laws of mourning, 14:2

Parsha Vayeira Torah Summary:

Abraham welcomes three visitors, who announce that Sarah will soon have a son. (18:1-15) Abraham argues with God about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. (18:16-33) Lot’s home is attacked by the people of Sodom. Lot and his two daughters escape as the cities are being destroyed. Lot’s wife is turned into a pillar of salt. (19:1-29) Lot impregnates his daughters, and they bear children who become the founders of the nations Moab and Ammon. (19:30-38) Abimelech, king of Gerar, takes Sarah as his wife after Abraham claims that she is his sister. (20:1-18) Isaac is born, circumcised, and weaned. Hagar and her son, Ishmael, are sent away; an angel saves their lives. (21:1-21) God tests Abraham, instructing him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. (22:1-19) Lovingkindness, compassion and empathy are the highest values of Jewish living, way before religious observance and ritual and worship as we learn – “The reward one receives for accompanying guests is greater than all of the others. This is a statute which Abraham our Patriarch instituted and the path of kindness which he would follow. He would feed wayfarers, provide them with drink, and accompany them. Showing hospitality for guests surpasses receiving the Divine Presence.” Maimonides Mishne Torah, Laws of mourning, 14:2

Vayeira (Genesis 18:1–22:24)

November 15, 2019/in Torah Tidbit

This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayeira (Genesis 18:1–22:24)

Tales of Destruction abound in the literature of the ancient world. Flood stories, fire stories, stories of war and plague and destruction. And, in many ways, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is just a Jewish version of that same sort of terrifying tale. And yet, the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah takes these tales and turns them on their heads to ask some deeper questions about the nature of God, the meaning of justice, and the role which we, God’s children, are commanded to play.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is not about the destruction of two cities, lost to the sand and salt of time. The moral of this story is a more lifted legend. The lesson of Sodom and Gomorrah is simply this: God is not in the whirlwind, not in the destructive hand. God is in the still small voice which murmurs beneath the blessing, beneath the pain, beneath the lives we all lead upon this earth. God is in Abraham’s willingness to provoke God, and God is in God’s listening to Abraham’s call. The moral of our story is: never be afraid to provoke, even God, for the cause of justice.

Vayeira Summary:

First, Abraham welcomes three visitors. They announce that Sarah will soon have a son. (18:1-15)
Then, Abraham argues with God about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. (18:16-33)
Moreover, Lot’s home is attacked by the people of Sodom. So Lot and his two daughters escape as the cities are being destroyed. And then, Lot’s wife is turned into a pillar of salt. (19:1-29)
After that, Lot impregnates his daughters, and they bear children who become the founders of the nations Moab and Ammon. (19:30-38)
Abimelech, king of Gerar, takes Sarah as his wife after Abraham claims that she is his sister. (20:1-18)
Yet, Isaac is born, circumcised, and weaned. Hagar and her son, Ishmael, are sent away; an angel saves their lives. (21:1-21)
In conclusion, God tests Abraham. Most importantly, God instructs him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. (22:1-19)

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